Looking for help to trace a relative who was a Navy Officer

[Sandra Buchanan]

Hi looking to trace a relative. Due to recent Ancestry DNA results my mum of 73yrs discovered that her Father in Donegal is not her father. But instead her DNA comes from Leinster. Her DNA comes from the Darcy and Hands Families from South Dublin. George Henry Hands 1893 and Mary Darcy 1893 had a son George Henry Hands 1922 born in Dublin. George Henry Hands could potentially be my grandfather or if not a close relative due to multiply DNA matches we have. My grandmother lived in Rathmullan Co.Donegal so I think my grandfather possibly travelled to Donegal by sea as my grandmother never left Donegal . Rathmullan had a deep waterway and pier which many boats and ships docked over the years. The only documents I have for George Hands are on a UK and Ireland Outward passenger list Aug 1953 Southampton , occupation Seaman. Does Seaman mean you are a deck hand with no formal training? Next document I have is George Hands on a UK and Ireland Outward passenger list Jan 1958 Liverpool, occupation Diver. If your a Diver I guess you need formal training and papers to prove it. Would George get that sort of training in Ireland or would it be more likely to be somewhere in the UK? Anyone familiar with Diver training during the 195O's? Next document George is living in Barge Sealane, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela travelling through Immigration in New York, Document dated 1961. I was trying to figure out that maybe living and working here was something to do with the OIL Industry. Does anyone have experience of working on ships in this part off the world late 1950's early 1960's? The last document I have is George Hands getting married in Quebec Canada Sept 1969 , Nationality now Canadian and occupation Navy Officer working for Ministery of Transport. This was his first marriage. I suppose I would like to Know where to Look to get records for George Hands , to find ships he may have worked on and if he appears on any crew lists in an around Donegal in the summer of 1950. If your a Navy Officer would a photo exist of that individual? I know this is a long shot but if anyone crossed paths with George Henry Hands over the years it would be wonderful to here from you. Any snippets of information will be greatly received. Kind regards Sandra Buchanan

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Sandra
Thank you for the Post.

I have checked the National Archives for Seamans Pouches in case, but so far no name like that comes up.
I also have looked at the Irish Merchant Seaman Site and there again no name comes up?
So just off hand is the Surname spelling correct??

Could it have been spelt a different way??

Anyway i will look into this further at a later time , there is a possibility that he was not in the Merchant Navy, possibly Royal Navy ??

As for other Questions you ask, i will leave those up to the Lads here that were Deck Crew!
Search Results - George Hands • FamilySearch

Added If he did serve in the Merchant Navy there is te possibility that he may still have a CRS10 available at the Archives!
This will only be known if you apply for it at the Following Link, which will cover his name in the Series!
If applying you should give as much info as possible .
The cost involved i am not sure of.
Cheers


Hands A W to Hanlon T P | The National Archives

[j.sabourn]

Sandra unless you are signing a document which requires more information as to your personal details , Seaman is ample to cover anyone on a seagoing vessel. As to diving most ports have on hand an air diver either employed by the harbour board or a company that they can acquire one from at short notice , quays and wharfs under water have to be inspected at various intervals. Most RN ships carry an air diver or frogman whatever what you want to call them for hull inspections also , think it is a rating or rank in the RN anyone who is ex RN would be better to advise you on such. Best of luck on your search . JS.

[Sandra Buchanan]

Hi Doc Thank you for your kind reply. Please excuse my lack of knowledge of the Navy and informing me that the Navy can refer to Merchant Navy or Royal Navy. I am sure of the spelling of Hands. I have not come across it spelt in any other way so far. I will make contact with the Archives to see if I can get any information from them, thanks for link. I found 2 other documents, List or manifest of persons employed on a vessel as members of crew. There is a George Hands on list 2 months D.H.U, date 26 Nov 1955 leaving Glasgow to New York. Ship name Eucadia listed as British vessel. Then a month later George Hands on list 3 months D.H.U, date 16 Jan 1956 leaving Glasgow to New York aboard The Eucadia. I have no way to verify that this is the George Henry Hands that I am trying to trace . Is it possible that a ship from Glasgow to New York could stop in Derry or Moville? If this is the George Hands i am looking for then he was only starting out on his life at sea. Maybe I should start with the Canadian Navy as he ended up in Canada with a rank of Navy officer and work backwards. Sandra

[Sandra Buchanan]

Hi J,Sabourn
Thank you for your kind reply and giving me more clarity and understanding of how and when a diver would be required. Its like looking for a needle in a haystack trying to locate information on George Hands. From the replies maybe I should be looking at the Royal Navy .
regards
Sandra

[j.sabourn]

#5 I knew an Australian diver 20+ years ago he was an ex AB out of Blue Star Line. His origin was Glasgow and retiring early from the sea was employed as a Diver by the Glasgow port authorities. Think that the labour exchange made available to those unemployed and physically fit short civilian courses on air diving ? Round about the 70/80s I believe , however this is second hand knowledge. Air diving is not not something too technically hard, in fact a lot of us in the North Sea referred to them as underwater labourers, this in a nice way of course. Diving in much deeper depths is considered much more technical and dangerous to the diver and very highly paid , this is called saturation diving where the divers go through a process of living in chambers and breathing various chemicals and gases to bring them to the deep depth they expect to be working at. I doubt anyone has got beyond 600 feet even today , if not in a submersible with its own atmosphere. Regards JS.

[j.sabourn]

Butting in again Sandra the person you are looking for in 1955 would have been 33 if your info. correct and if described as a DHU at that age and year he is very likely to be ex armed forces and probably Royal Navy. As the rating DHU was originally brought out for that purpose to give elder and later starters in the MN a rating more applicable to older people. So information wanted may be more likely in the MOD archives . JS

[Doc Vernon]

Deck Hand (Uncertificated) Just in case the lady may no know the real meaning !
Cheers

[Sandra Buchanan]

Again thank you , this is interesting and very informative piece of information. Sandra